Thursday at City Hall, veteran carpenters’ union official JoAnn Williams vented her frustrations at the Public Employees Committee for a bill that provides only an incremental raise for workers she represents.

At today’s full-board meeting, Williams employed a different negotiating tactic — free lunch.

The carpenters treated aldermen to a full spread from Dierbergs, replete with a fruit plate, an assortment of sandwiches, pasta salad, some sort of bacon concoction and a vanilla sheet cake for dessert.

Can an appeal to the belly change the hearts and minds of aldermen?

“We hope,” said Williams, who added that the meal had already been planned before Thursday’s hearing.

Even so, judging by the gaggle of aldermen around the chow line — there was a quorum, at least — it was a good day for labor.

Other crumbs from City Hall:

• Led by Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, a number of local supporters of Barack Obama will take a chartered bus on Dec. 15 to Ottumwa, Iowa, where they will spend the day canvassing for the Illinois senator. Among those signed up for the trip — four and half hours, each way — are: former mayor Vince Schoemehl, State Sen. Maida Coleman, Auditor Susan Montee, Comptroller Darlene Green, State Rep. T.D. El-Amin, and several city aldermen. (Given last night’s announcement, we guess State Sen. Jeff Smith might be there, too.)
• Mayor Francis Slay was back in London to accept another award from the World Leadership Forum. This year, the city beat out Ahmedabad, India in the housing category.
• Robin Carnahan wants you for a presentation on World War II posters.
• Aloha Mischeaux, daughter of Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr., considers her post-Idol career.